Notebook: Chris Pohlkamp to join Falcons this fall

The defenseman originally was slated to start his Falcon career either this fall or in the fall of 2016, but the decision was made for him to start his college career this fall.

The younger Pohlkamp helped Sioux Falls win the United States (Junior) Hockey League championship last season.

The 5-foot-10, 196-pounder had two goals and 14 assists in 59 regular-season games and two assists in 12 playoff games. He had an on-ice rating of plus-3 during the regular season and plus-12 in the playoffs.

Pohlkamp turned 20 last month.

“Chris is coming off a really good year in juniors,” BG coach Chris Bergeron said. “The feedback we’re getting, which is no surprise, from his coaches is really, really positive in terms of a kid who is going to play at the college level.”

Pohlkamp is expected to compete for playing time this season.

“We feel like he’s a guy who should be on the inside looking out, but that will be up to him,” Bergeron said. “He’s not very flashy, but he’s a guy who is effective and gets things done, and he’s a winner.’

DEFENSE CORPS: The Falcons are continuing to upgrade their offense and skill level on defense.

Freshmen Connor McDonald and Matthew Ferrari are expected to add offense from the blueline.

“In this day and age where it’s so hard to create offense, we’re not going to sacrifice defense,” Bergeron said. “But we think these guys can all defend and defending is more of a willingness.

“They’re all willing, but they can help us by getting in the rush and making small, little hockey plays from an offensive standpoint.”

But Bergeron said the team isn’t sacrificing defense for more offense.

“We still feel there’s bite back there, the way Walker plays and (Chris) Pohlkamp will bring that same level that (Walker does),” Bergeron said.

“Friedman and Valleau are hard guys to play against because of how mobile they are and how good they are with their sticks defensively.”

Bergeron said the Falcons are modeling their defense corps after Ferris State’s 2012 team which advanced to the NCAA championship game.

“They were all under 6-foot and very mobile,” Bergeron said. “I’m not saying that’s what we’re going for, but there’s room for a real mobile defenseman at the college level. “

DEPTH: Bergeron said BG will be the deepest it’s been in his six seasons at BG.

“Our competition, no matter what position, is going to be the highest it’s ever been,” Bergeron said. “

ROSTER: Barring any last-minute surprises, the Falcons’ 28-player roster is set for this season.

The Falcons have three goalies, nine defensemen and 16 forwards. They also have six seniors, five juniors, 10 sophomores and seven freshmen.]

The four other freshmen are all forwards — Shane Bednard, John Schilling, Joe McKeown and Stephen Baylis.

CHANGE: Ryan Coulter, a forward who was expected to join the Falcons for the 2016-17 season, has decided not to attend BG.

Instead, he will play lacrosse at John Hopkins University, which has one of the best programs in NCAA Division I. JHU lost in the NCAA semifinals last season.

In hockey last season, Coulter had six goals and 15 assists in 60 games for the Langley Rivermen in the British Columbia (Junior) Hockey League.

DISCIPLINE: Bergeron said Delgadillo and sophomore goalie Chris Nell will be disciplined after BG police citations last spring.

Delgadillo was cited for open container, and Nell was cited for open container and underage possession of alcohol.

“There will be accountability for both of them,” said Bergeron, who declined to be specific about the punishment.

Bergeron also declined to say if it would include game suspensions.

About Kevin Gordon

Kevin joined BGSUHockey.com after wrapping up a 27-year run as the Falcon hockey beat writer for the Sentinel-Tribune. After providing another two years of the Falcon hockey coverage fans had grown to love over the past three decades, Kevin decided to hang up his notebook and is now enjoying the retired life. Please join us by sending Kevin a tweet and thank him for all the time he's dedicated to BGSU hockey: @KGordonBG.

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